We have a good few days of racing ahead starting today with the opening day of the Hennessy meeting at Newbury and a decent card at Doncaster. We add to these two tomorrow with the ‘Fighting Fifth’ meeting at Newcastle.

Three races for us this afternoon from Newbury where the chase course is Good to Soft(soft in places) and it is Soft (good to soft in places)  for the hurdlers.

Newbury 1.05

Wide open handicap that should throw up future winners.

Double W’s, Sirabad and Valseur Du Granval are all progressive.

Remiluc makes his chasing debut on a fair mark.

He impressed when winning over hurdles on latest start, his jumping suggesting that fences shouldn’t be a problem.

Difficult race to evaluate-5/1 the field.

Newbury 2.10

Ballyoptic got outpaced then was staying on when falling at the last at Wetherby-he would have gone close. Nigel Twiston-Davies reported: “Ballyoptic jumped the hurdle all right but slipped on landing two strides after it, but it hasn’t dented his confidence as he’s schooled well since. We think he’d have won that day, but we would wouldn’t we? He was going very well though, and the softer ground will help here. I’m very happy with him.”

Menorah is of interest switching to hurdles, with cheek-pieces fitted.

Snow Falcon and Unowhatimeanharry are expected to progress.

Ballyoptic is my favourite, but is short in the market being as low as 15/8 this morning.

I price the main contenders as follows:

Ballyoptic  3/1

Snow Falcon  5/1

Unowhatimeanharry 11/2

Menorah 6/1

12/1 bar

Newbury 3.20

Behind Time impressed last week at Cheltenham-deserves to be at short odds.

Solomn Grundy finished 2nd in that race and was also noted. He is the E/W option.

I price the pair:

Behind Time 11/8

Solomn Grundy 3/1

10/1 bar

 

We look as though a spell of settled weather and with it consistent going will be with us for the current period. This provides more accurate form analysis and an increase in my own betting turnover which has had to be notably restrained of late due to a radical change in ground conditions.

Back tomorrow for the Hennessy and more